Staying Strong

Chapter 5

Disclaimer: As much as I would love to own Harry Potter, I do not own a thing.

Author's Note: Before you read this chapter, I just wanted to say congrats to my friend Kyp for finally posting her story on fanfiction! Kyp (CapnSilver) is an amazing writer and if you are a Lupin/Hermione fan, you must go read her fic, She Feels. Seriously, it's great! Ok, on with the story!

Dream:

"Hermione," A mysterious voice whispered through the darkness of the room.

Hermione slowly pulled the covers to her chin, her eyes locked on the corner of the room.

"Hermione," The voice said once more.

"What do you want from me?" Hermione said, reaching for her wand that sat on the table next to her.

"Hermione, it's me, the love of your life, the darkness to your light,"

Hermione gasped, placing her shaking hand over her mouth. "Draco?" She whispered.

The hodded figure stepped from the corner of the room and lifted a hand, removing his hood. "It's nice to see you again, Hermione."

Hermione pushed the covers from her legs and ran over to Draco, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I never thought that I would see you again." She cried, tears streaming down her pale cheeks.

Draco rested his head on Hermione's shoulder, breathing in her enchanting scent. "I'm sorry that I had to put you through his, Hermione."

"Why did you do it, Draco? Why did you hurt an innocent person?"

Draco pulled away and shook his head, a puzzled look on his face. "I didn't do anything to anyone, Hermione."

"Draco, if you didn't do anything, we would both be at Hogwarts right now, not in this musty old house."

"Hermione, don't tell me that you're going to believe those idiots?" He replied, slightly squeezing her arms.

Hermione pulled her arms away from Draco. "What am I supposed to believe when you have been gone for the past couple of weeks? What, did you expect everyone to just return to their daily lives while you ran around like a scared little boy? Bloody hell Draco, you do not understand the pain that I have gone through since you left. I was forced out of my bed at Hogwarts and sent here, just because of something stupid that you did." She said angrily.

"Hermione, I didn't do anything!"

"Then tell me the truth! What really happened?"

Draco plopped down on the bed and lowered his head. "He wouldn't leave me alone. I told the bloke to get away from me, that I was carrying a wand. He was a friend of my fathers, sent to destroy everything that made me want to change to the good side. He wanted to hurt you, Hermione."

Hermione walked over to Draco and sat down next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "What else, Draco? What happened to the man?"

Draco looked into Hermione's innocent eyes. "I killed him."

Hermione brought her hand to her mouth as sobs escaped from her throat. "You lied to me."

"Hermione, love," Draco tried to take Hermione's hand but she pulled away and got to her feet.

"No, no don't touch me. As a matter of fact, don't even come near me anymore. I want nothing more to do with someone as inconsiderate as you."

"Inconsiderate? Hermione, I got rid of the bloke so that you could be happy. I did it just for you." He said, wrapping his arms around her waist.

Hermione quickly drew her wand from her pocket and turned to face him. "Don't touch me." She growled, her wand pointed at his face.

Draco held up his hands and laughed. "Bloody hell, you are a feisty one."

Hermione slowly backed towards the door. "I'm warning you Malfoy, do not come near me or I will be forced to use any spell that I wish on you."

Draco slowly lowered his hands. "We're back to our old ways, now aren't we? All right Mudblood, I'll leave, but under one condition."

A tear slowly slid down Hermione's cheek as the pain of Draco's words shot through her. "What is it?"

"I will leave if you never tell a soul that I was here."

Hermione nodded her head, her wand still pointed at Draco. "Deal."

Draco smirked and turning on his heel, strode back to the window. "It's been fun, Granger." With a wink, Draco jumped on to the window ledge and disappeared into the darkness of the night.

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Hermione threw herself from her bed, her cheeks coated with tears. Wiping the beads of sweat with the back of her hand, she slowly closed her eyes and took a long, deep breath.

'All you have to do is believe and keep believing, no matter how hard you want to break down or run. Keep believing, and everything will be alright. I promise you that.' Tonks words seemed to repeat themself inside of Hermione's head as she tried to calm herself. With one last look at the window and then at the corner of the room, Hermione laid back down, pulling the covers to her chin and slowly closing her eyes, almost instantly falling back to sleep.

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"Hermione," Remus said to Hermione as she slowly opened her eyes that morning. "Hermione, it's just a dream, it's just a dream."

Hermione gave Remus a puzzled look. "Remus, what's going on?"

Remus brushed a strand of hair from Hermione's face. "You were screaming in your sleep. What were you dreaming about?"

Hermione shook her head. "I don't remember."

"Hermione," sighed Remus. "You know that you can tell me anything."

"I really don't remember, Remus."

Remus nodded, taking a deep breath. "All right, Hermione, I won't bother you about it. When ever you feel ready to talk to me about it, I will be there to listen." With that, Remus started for the door when Hermione stopped him.

"My dream was about Draco." She said quickly before he exited the room.

Remus turned and leaned against the doorframe. "What about Draco?"

Hermione looked back at the window. "He came back for me, and something was different about him. He told me that he was innocent, but that was a lie. Draco, h-he,"

Remus walked over to Hermione and took a seat on her bed. "What is it, Hermione? What did Draco do that made you so upset?"

Hermione squeezed his hand. "He called me Mudblood." She replied, sobs escaping from her throat.

"Hermione, love," Remus pulled Hermione into his arms. "It was just a dream. I am sure that Draco would never call you such a name as that."

Hermione snuffed. "How do you know that?"

"I have seen the way he acts when he is with you, Hermione. It is truly amazing how much that boy has changed since you first accepted him into your life. That is how I cannot believe that he would ever call you such a name. I have never seen such love as that boy has for you."

"Really?" Hermione asked, pulling away from the hug.

Remus wiped the tear that ran down Hermione's cheek. "Really."

Author's Note: Hey there! Gosh, I cannot believe that I only have one more day until I have to go back to school. I miss spring break. I am actually quite excited about going back to school though! Thanks to everyone that has reviewed thus far! Oh and a BIG hug to Lyra Parry for writing that sweet little thing about me on her profile. Love ya all!

Love

Jess